BY HENRY MHARA ZIFA says the country’s suspension from the Fifa family will not affect player transfers, with local clubs free to export players.
This comes after Dynamos last week released two players Shadreck Nyahwa and Emmanuel Paga for trials at Azam FC in Tanzania.
They are also expected to travel to Egypt next week for another assessment at Pyramid FC.
Another Dynamos star, Bill Antonio has attracted the attention of a Belgian club and is scheduled to travel to the European country for an assessment anytime soon.
And with the local transfer window set to officially open on Friday next week, a number of players are expected to move in search of foreign suitors.
But there were fears that local clubs, most of them who heavily depended on transfer fees for survival, might not be able to export their players because of the suspension of Zimbabwe by Fifa.
However, Zifa spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela yesterday told NewsDay Sport that the country’s isolation from international football does not affect player transfers.
“Players were never affected and the TMS [transfer matching system] system is functional,” Gwesela said.
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TMS is an online database system that makes international transfers of players between clubs quicker, smoother and more transparent.
“By the way, we are just suspended, and not banned,” added Gwesela.
Fifa in March suspended Zimbabwe indefinitely from international football over government interference.
This was after the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC), the government-run sports governing body, had dissolved the Zifa board led by Felton Kamambo over a litany of allegations.
Kamambo is refuting the charges.
The world football governing body has put a number of conditions for the country’s re-admission which include the unconditional reinstatement of Kamambo’s executive.
The SRC has since reinstated part of the dissolved Zifa board, leaving Kamambo and two other members Philemon Machana and Bryton Malandule in the cold.
Fifa is yet to respond to these developments despite spirited efforts by Zifa to have the suspension lifted.
The association last week wrote to Zurich requesting for the suspension to be lifted, although it is highly unlikely that Fifa will budge.
Zimbabwe’s suspension means the country is barred from participating in any international football activities.
Consequently, the Warriors were booted out of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and the Cosafa Cup tournament, which kicks off in South Africa next month.
Local football clubs will also be barred from participating in regional and continental competitions such as the Caf Champions League and the Caf Confederation Cup while local referees will no longer be considered for international assignments.
- Follow Henry onTwitter @henrymhara
